Actually Ron, I think you are making sweeping generalisations. You said:

" I will try to word it another way - folk music represents a world of cultures - not just an individual with an acoustic guitar."

Well Ron, one of the music cultures of the world, flamenco, is an individual with an acoustic guitar. See what I mean?

That is your Anglocentricity showing, and you don't have to have a drop of English blood to be assimilated into the dominant Anglo American music culture which presumes every guy with an acoustic guitar isn't "folk."

I also have no problem with you or anyone else earning money at playing the music you prefer. I just have a problem with people whining because they don't think enough people listen to the music they like, being played just the way they like it.